Police: Massillon house fire may have been suicide attempt

City officials say a suicide “note or notes” was left in the home of Nancy Hamilton, who was pulled from her burning home and taken to an Akron hospital.

Steven M. Grazier IndeOnline.com staff writer @sgrazierINDE

Police are investigating whether the cause of a Monday afternoon house fire on Cyprus Drive SW was a suicide attempt by a city woman.

Police Chief Keith Moser said an investigation is ongoing to determine if homeowner Nancy Hamilton tried to take her own life

"The fire appears to have been intentionally set," Moser said Tuesday. "There was a suicide note or notes left."

Yellow caution tape was visible Tuesday around the front of Hamilton's home at 2525 Cyprus Drive SE as police, fire officials and the state fire marshal continue their investigation. Flowers and a handwritten note in plastic wrap had been placed on the outside of the mailbox at her home.

City firefighters rescued Hamilton from inside her burning home about 1 p.m. Monday and frantically worked to save her. She initially was taken to Affinity Medical Center and later transported by helicopter to the Akron Children's Hospital burn center, which also treats adults, according to Massillon Fire Chief Tom Burgasser.

Officials from the hospital could not confirm Tuesday whether Hamilton was a patient there.

Burgasser said during a news conference Monday that the fire "did not occur naturally."

Moser was not able to give further information Tuesday afternoon about the note or notes found at the scene.